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The visual analogue score (VAS) is recommended to assess the severity of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR), but despite its advantages, it is a tool for subjective assessment of symptoms and often does not correlate with the true state of nasal patency. Anterior active rhinomanometry (AAR) is the method to objectify obstructive changes in the nasal cavity in patients with AR and is the most accurate method to assess nasal breathing function from a physiological and aerodynamic point of view. In addition, AAR with a decongestant test allows a differential diagnosis of the causes of nasal obstruction. Our study showed that there was no correlation between VAS and AAR scores. In addition, we found the importance of performing AAR with a decongestant test and subsequent assessment of unilateral flow and resistance parameters, which allowed us to suspect the presence of structural changes in the nasal cavity in patients with AR, as recorded as a result of anterior rhinoscopy and/or endoscopic examination. Thus, in addition to the use of VAS, it is necessary to include AAR in the diagnostic algorithm for AR, which allows not only to confirm the presence or absence of nasal breathing impairment, but also to differentiate the causes of its occurrence for the subsequent selection of the optimal management of patients with AR.
Volkova et al. (Wed,) studied this question.